Sewing machine



Nov. '7, 1939. .1. P. wEls r-:T AL

SEWING y MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 27. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nm L@ Nov. 7, 1939. J. P. wEls Er AL SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 27, 1934 INVENTOR EZ UR W. ..0 P F Mn MM :A E

EY ma Nov., 7, 1939. J. P. wEls ET AL.

SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 27. 1934 INVENTOR .10H/vf? W15/.s EEDEE/c/f FZ5/5e BY www QW ATTORNEY law Nov. `7, 1939.

J. P. WEls Er AL SEWING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 27. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 7, 1939.

J. P. WE'IS ET AL SEWING MACHINE original Filed oct. 27, 19:54

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JoHA/PM/E/.s

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE.

SEWING MACHINE Jbhn P. weis, Nyack,

N. Y.,\and Frederick F.

Zeicr, Bridgeport, Conn., assignors to Willcox & `Gibbs Sewing Machine Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York y Original application October 27, 1934, Serial No. 750,259. Divided and this application January 20, 1938, Serial No.f185,886

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, and particularly to improvements in the lower` or work supporting arm construction and the `associated structures therein and thereon.` `This application is a division of the cri-pending application Serial No. 750,259, filed October 27, 1934, Aand now Patent No. 2,145,824, granted January@ 3,1, 1939.

It is a primary objectof the present invention to provide a single sewing machine which may be made into and used equally well as a so-called flat bed or feed across the arm type of sewing machine and also a cylindrical or feed around the`arm `type for hemming bloomers, step-ins, trouser and overall legs, and the like.

Complementary aims of this object are to provide a "machine that has free access to the stitching instrumentalities for convenient threading, cleaning, and adjusting, whereby free space is provided for a large variety of attachments, readilyadapting the machine to a wide variety of stitching requirements. i

In the accomplishment of this object andthe various aims, amachine has been developed with numerous advantageous features of construction,v among which may be noted: an improved lower or work supporting arm, which is sturdy and'easily cleaned, including novel cloth plates and throat plates supported thereby, and which may be removed or changed one without the f other; the cloth plates being of various sizes all supportablelon the one lower arm to change the machine from a iiat bed type to a cylindrical or feed aroundthe arm type, the arm having special supports so that it may be located and held with the head endprojecting froma table to permit feeding around the arm.

Further, thisy improved lower arm supports interchangeable throat plates, provided'with an underlying adaptor, making possible the use of thin throat plates with thiol;` cloth plates, independent removal of the plates, ample support for the thin throat plate while providing plenty of clearance for underlyingloopers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved support whereby loop spreaders for operating on the looper threads may be `interchanged without the necessity of disassembling the cloth plate from the arm. Thus, when changing from asingle needle to a double or triple needle set-up, `and`when the throat plate is necessarilychanged, Athe loop spreader of the present invention may be removed therewith Aand `a double or triple loop (CL 11E-260) spreader may be added to the arm again with the Vchanged throat plate.

` Another feature of this improved lower arm is that, despite its interchangeable characteris` tics, it may be made asan integral part of the main frame, and despite its small size it may be made very Sturdy to withstand the stress and strain of operating multiple needles and loopers for gang stitching at high speed through thick, thin, and needle resistant-materials. Further, this novel work supporting arm provides for the free passage of lint, grit, waste materials, and various` substances that come from sewing, to prevent an accumulation of such materials interfering with the regular operation of the machine, means being provided so that such foreign matter may pass through or out of the way of working parts to avoid clogging.

`Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

` In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional View taken longitudinally through the complete machine of the presentA invention.

"'Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the working or head end of the machine, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the trunk end of the machine, taken on line 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line ll--l in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5.is a top sectional View taken on line 5f-5 in Fig. 1 and shows the cloth plate removed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but shows the longitudinal type looper and the wide cloth plate in place on the lower arm, forming the fiat bed or feed across the arm type of machine.

Fig.` 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but shows a modified form of structure for the outer end of the lower arm and shows the narrow cloth plate in place, viz.` the cylindrical or feed around the arm type of machine.

. Fig. 8 is a detail top view of the loop spreader slide.

Fig. 8A is a front View of a modied form of slide similar to that shown in Fig. 8.

Fig.` 9 is a fragmentary `top view of the needle guard.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the iront and outer end ci the lower arm, showing the front or the needle guard and the loop spreader.

Fig. 11 is a top View of the large cloth plate on a reduced scale.

Fig. 12 is a top view of the small cloth plate, shown in Fig. 7, and shown by dash lines in Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a top view of the adaptor plate.

Fig. 14 is a top view of one form of throat plate.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the loop spreader operating connection.

The present invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings' since the principles of the invention are capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology eniployed is for the purpose of description and not for limitation.

Frame and trunk Referring now in detail to the drawings, the sewing machine of the present invention includes a frame I2 comprising a hollow trunk I3 for supporting a main driving mechanism I4, with a preferably hollow and integral upper arm I5 for supporting a needle operating mechanism I6, and a preferably integral lower arm II for supporting looper and feeding mechanisms I8 and I9 respectively and for forming a work support 28. In general it has a smooth outer finish for appearance, ease in cleaning, and elimination of all outward obstructions which would interfere with handling the work.

The hollcwed trunk I3 comprises a front wall 2l, rear wall 22 and side walls 23 and 24, the latter having large side openings 25 and 28 respectively to accommodate and support the main driving mechanism I4. Further, the trunk I3 is provided with a top opening 2l and a bottom opening 28 large enough to pass various operating parts and to receive the hands of a person making the original assembly or making subsequent repairs and adjustments. A cover plate 29 and a bottom plate 39 are provided for the top and bottom openings El and 28 respectively, and are held in place with screws. End caps 3l and 32 are similarly held against the side walls 23 and 24 respectively by screws 3| and 32 to make a complete oil tight closure for the main operating parts.

These openings and caps permit bench assembly of the operating parts contained in the trunk of the machine and facilitate assembly thereof by making it possible to pass the main driving mechanism I4 or large sub-units thereof through the various openings. When the caps are secured thereto an effective seal is provided which prevents leakage of oil while the machine is in operation.

The upper arm I5 is preferably made with a substantially hollow chamber 33 and may be of substantially rectangular and tapering cross section, with a transverse web 34 at the trunk end, and a similar transverse web 35 near a head 36 at the end of the arm, to support a main rock shaft 3l of the needle operating mechanism I6. The head is provided with suitable bearings 38 and 39 for a needle bar 4D and a presser bar 4I, see Figs. l and 2, and is provided with a large opening i2 to facilitate adjustments and repairs to the parts therein. This opening is normally closed with a cover plate 43, held in place by screws 43', to cover up the working mechanism and to prevent adverse escape of oil.

Lowe,M arm (brief description) Although the lower arm I'I and the associated parts form the main subject matter of the present application, but brief reference is made thereto at this point in order to clearly describe the manner in which it supports the looper mechanism I8 and the feeding mechanism I9. After the latter are described in detail the important fea-- tures of the lower arm will be described more fully.

Basically the lower arm I'I comprises a front wall 44 and a rear wall 45 extending horizontallyI from the trunk I3 in a direction parallel to and underlying the upper arm I5. Although these arms may be secured to the trunk by screws or other well known fastening means they are for rigidity and economy preferably made integral with the trunk. In order to provide suitable bearings for important operating parts an end wall 46 is provided at the outer extremities of the front and rear walls 44 and 45 respectively and a shorter transverse web 4`I is provided intermediate the end wall 4B and the sides of the walls 44, 45 and 23.

M ain driving mechanism lower arm structure of the present application is also equally applicable for use with the universal type loopers fully illustrated and described in the application Serial No. 745,343, filed September 24, 1934 by John P. Weis and Frederick F. Zeier and now Patent No. 2,145,822, granted January 31, 1939. It comprises a main drive shaft 64 with cranks A, B, C, D, and E, accommodating main driving connections including crank arms 65, 66, El, 68 and 69 respectively provided with ball and socket connections lll, 1I, 12, 13 and 'I4 between dividing plates 'I5 (see Fig. 1).

Each of the crank arms 65 through 69 is preferably provided with a ball and socket and like connections 16, TI, "I8, 19 and 80 respectively for connection to an arm 8l, bell crank 82, arms 83 and 84, and link 35 at their ends opposite the main drive shaft, for operating the needle operating and other mechanism all in a manner about to be described.

This centrally located main drive shaft 84 supported in bearings 85 and 8l brings the handwheel 89 into a location where it may be very conveniently grasped without awkward twisting of the arm, and without danger of Skinning knuckles as occurs sometimes when the handwheel is close to the base of the machine. Further, it makes possible the use of short crank arms to the various mechanisms, thereby overcoming vibration and inertia of moving parts to a very marked extent. This latter factor is enhanced by having the main drive shaft parallel the rocking and reciprocating rods of the various associated mechanisms.

Needle operating mechanism The needle driving mechanism I6 comprises the rocker rod 31 journaled in bearings 34' and 35 in the walls 34 and 35 respectively with an arm 8l secured to the trunk end thereof by a yoke 8| and having a bearing stud 90 at its outer end connecting with the ball socket 'I6 at the upper end of the crank arm 35. At the head end 36 of the arm I5 the rocker rod 3'! is provided with a needle driving arm QI adjustably secured thereto by two screws 9| for adjusting the retracted and projected position of a needle 93 relative to the head 36 and the looper 62. This arm is connected to the hollow needle bar 40 through a double link 92 and link pin connections 92 (see Fig. 2). At its lower end the needle bar is adapted to interchangeably receive various types of needles 93 in the conventional manner. One vertical reciprocation of the needle downward and upward is accomplished by the crank arm 05 each time the crank A on the main drive shaft 64 is given a complete revolution.

Transverse looper As shown in Figs. 1 through 5 particularly, the looper mechanism I8 includes a looper carrier 91 having a pivot connection 98 projecting from a collar 99. The looper carrier i is provided with a hole |00 adapted to receive a looper B2 having a thread carrying and loop engaging blade |0I, held therein by a screw |02. Various types and shapes of loopers, depending upon the stitch formation desired, may be supported in the one carrier in this manner.

The collar 99 is rotatable on an upper rod l03, the latter being supported for reciprocatory movement in bearings |04 in the trunk i3 and in the lower arm |1. The collar is held against axial movement thereon by thrust collars |05 after the looper 02 is properly located with respect to the needle 93. Spacing between the collars |05 is just enough to prevent adverse axial movement of the collar 99 on the upper rod |03, yet sufficient to permit a free rotating or rocking movement on the rod.

In order to move the looper 92 relative to the needle in an elliptical path in the usual and well known manner to form a Federal Standard Stitch Style 401, the lower end of the looper carrier 91 is provided with a double pivot connection |00 to a lower rod |01 journaled in bearings Iilii and the upper and lower rods |03 and |01 vrespectively provided with driving connections i |09 and |I0, see Figs. 1 through 5. The connection |09 for the upper rod |03 includes the crank arm 96 having the ball and socket connection 1I with the crank B on the main drive shaft 64 and with a ball and socket connection 11 to the bell crank 02 pivotally mounted on a cross shaft |II, the bell crank having a ball and socket conn-ection H2. The main connection I l0 for the lower rocker rod |01 includes the crank arm 01 having the ball and socket connection 12 with the crank C on the main drive shaft 04 and having a ball and socket connection 18 to the front end of the arm 83 secured to the lower rocker rod.

Reciprocation of the upper rod Iiii moves the looper 02 from the solid lin-e to the dot-and-dash line position and vice versa, shown in Fig. l, and

rocking movement of the lower rod` |01 moves the looper from solid line to the dot-and-dash line position shown in Fig. 2, all in. timed relation with reciprocation of the needle 93. The lower rocker rod |01, is held in desired position lengthwise of the bed by collars |09 engaging bearings I 00. The upper rod |03, however, is not held against endwise movement since it must be reciprocated in the bearings |09 in order to impart rocking movement to the looper carrier 91.

Feeding mechanism The feeding mechanism i9 for moving materials through the machine comprises a feed rocker rod ||4 and a feed lifter rod H5 mounted in suitable bearings in the lower arm i1 and the trunk i3. This mechanism is best seen in Figs. 2 and 5 and in a slightly modified form in Figs. 6 and 7. It comprises a feed dog 63 secured to a feed dog carrier I I6 as by screws I I1, and this carrier in turn is connected to an arm IIB adjustably clamped to the rock shaft II4 by a split clamp construction II9 through a spring |20 under screws I2I and at its other end has a connection through a at spring |22 and coil spring 29 to an arm |24 having a yoke connection |25 to the feed lift rod I I5.

The feed dog 03 passes through suitable apertures 49 in the throat plate 49 in the usual manner and is given a four-motion movement through timed rocking of the-feed rock rod ||4 and feed lift rod I I9. Any suitable feed dog, depending upon material and stitch requirements, may be secured to the carrier as by the screws IH, and any suitable mating throat plate may be provided. Cooperating with the feed dog B3 is a presser foot |21 carried by the presser bar 4|, which is tubular and operated in the bushing 39 in the head 36 in the well known manner.

A connection |28, see Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, including an arm 04 connected by a yoke |30 between the feed lift rod I I5 and a ball and socket connection 19 to the lower end of the crank arm 68 is provided to rock the feed lift, rod. Thus, each time the crank D is given one complete turn, the lower end of the arm |24, see Figs. 2 and 5 through '7, is oscillated a predetermined extent and the spring |22 at the end theerof lifts the feed dog 03 from a position below the throat plate 49 to a position level with the top thereof or slightly above it to grip the materials between it and the presser foot |21.

Similar rocking movement is imparted to the rod iI/I through a connection |32 to the link 85 and crank arm 69 (see Fig. 3), to impart material carrying movement to the feed dog 63. The extent of feeding travel is regulated by an adjusting mechanism |33.

Longitudinal looper The feeding mechanism just described and the main driving mechanism i4 described hereinbe.

fore equally applicable with longitudinal looper B94, best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, having its main travel longitudinally or `parallel with the line of feed. With this type of looper a carrier 91 is rigidly secured to the upper rod |03 by a yoke 99' and is `given a four-motion operation' by reciprocating the rod |03 as with the crank arm 06 and bell crank 82 and is rocked as by having the crank arm 61 and associated parts connected to the upper rod` |03 rather than to the lower rod, described more fully in the co-pending application Serial No. 745,343, filed September 24, 1934. This co-pending application also discloses and describes a universal looper mechanism in detail. These three forms of looper, viz., transverse, longitudinal, and universal are equally applicable for use in the novel lower arm forming the main subject matter of this application.

Lower arm (detailed description) The lower arm l1 is preferably made integral with the frame I2, with a front wall 44 and a rear wall 45 extending horizontally from the trunk I3 in a direction parallel to and underlying the upper arm I5. In order to make these walls rigid or sturdy at the outer extremities, and in order to provide suitable bearings for importantwoperating parts, an end wall 49 is provided at their outer extremities `and a shorter transverse web 41 is provided intermediate the end wall 40 and the sides of the walls 44, 45, and

'v the arm is provided with a foot ll for supporting and securing the machine to a bench and for allowing the ouger end thereof to be free and clear of the bench or table.

The low-er arm i? is arranged to provide a work support 59 of a short height and width, and to provide a sturdy and quickly interchangeable support for a throat plate 49. Supports 59, 5i, and 52, best seen in Fig. 5, are provided on the front wall lill and associated rear lugs 53, 54, and 55, are provided on the rear wall i5 to form a support for the wide and large area cloth plate 55, best seen in Figs. Il, 6, and il, which may be secured thereto by screws 5l entering tapped holes 5l', or may likewise and interchangeably support a narrow and small area cloth plate 53 as shown in Figs. 7, i2 and by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4.

These wide and narrow cloth plates 5t and 523 and the interchangeable characteristics thereof are a very important feature of the present invention. In most cases a machine of the socalled feed across the arm type with a wide cloth plate for long straight run sewing is preferred. However, for certain kinds of work, for example `the sewing of bloomers, stocking tops, trouser ends, etc., a so-called cylindrical or feed around the arm type of machine is required.

Ordinarily a manufacturer or user of sewing machines must have separate machines for each type of sewing. So far as applicants are aware the present invention is the first to provide structure for changing from one to the other type of machine, which results in a considerable saving of investment in machinery and considerably reduces the amount of floor and bench space required.

The cloth plates 5t and 58 are normally made of thick material for strength and rigidity and are provided with a depthwise cut-out or aper ture 52, adapted to merely locate and not to sup port an adaptor 5@ and the throat plate lis. As may best be seen in Figs. l, 2, 3, e, and 5, the lugs 5t, 5l, 53, and 5ft are adapted to directlyv support the adaptor @t and the threat plate t9,

. the latter being secured to the adaptor by screws 6l threaded into holes Si. Interchangeable throat plates may be provided with various cutouts to accommodate various stitching combina tions, diiieient holes M to accommodate needle gauges for light and heavy work, and various feed dogs. The main purpose of the adaptor 55 is to make possible the use of a thick cloth plate 555 with relatively thin throat plates 49, both resting upon the same bosses and more particularly to form a clearance for loopers t2, and feed dog 53, see Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

This adaptor'iil also forms a rigid support for the throat plate to prevent deflection uri-- der heavy pressure from the needle when operating on heavy materials, and prevents deflection under heavy pressure of the presser foot. in addition, this arrangement of parts is such that the change-over from the wide cloth plate 55 to the narrow cloth plate 53, and in effect the change from a flat bed to a cylindrical machine, may be effected without disturbing the throat plate which is desirable when there is a critical adjustment between the throat plate, feedv dogs, and the needle guide. Also, it is possible to remove or change the throat plate 59, without disturbing the cloth plate, when it is desired to make repairs, changes, or adjustments to the feed dog or looper forming instrumentalities located in the lower arm l'l.

Thus, the present invention provides a work support 2&3 which is capable of a wide variety of uses, and which may be easily and quickly changed from one type of machine to another.

Preferably the walls Mi, d5, fit, and di form a chamber 9!!- to house and sturdily support the lcoper and other operating instrumentalities, with an open top and with an aperture or notch it in the front wall lid to facilitate replacing and adjusting these instrumentalities.

If preferred, the work support Z9 may be modied slightly at the outer end of the arm Il so that small diameter articles may be slipped in place thereon and sewed around the arm. As shown in Fig. 'l this modiiied structure comprises the omission of the front wall dfi between the transverse end wall and the intermediate transverse wall lil, with a modified end wall 9G of reduced size and preferably with a cover 96 to prevent the work from engaging the moving instrumentalities at that point. The foot l'i allows this modiiied end to project from the bench or work table.

Loop spreader A novel loop spreader mechanism i3@ include ing a slide it is illustrated in Figs. f3, 8A, 9, 10, i3, 14, and l5 which, through pins ill and M5, link MZ, and connection i433 is operated by the upper rod it coordinately with the looper. rlhis loop spreader slide i139 operates in the channel ili on the under side of the throat plate i9 so as to properly be guided thereby, its location be* ing in advance of the needles 93. This slide is provided with a looper thread engaging hook M5 when the machine is used for making stitch formation Federal Standard Stitch Type No. 401; or more hooks 55', as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Figure 8, if the machine is arranged for making ornamental stitches, in which case the loop spreader may serve two needles, passing from one to the other, for instance as shown and described in Patent No. 1,961,950 of June 5, 1934, to John P. Weis et al.

The connection M3 shown in Figs. l, 10 and l5, comprises an arm it secured to the upper rod i613 carrying a ball stud itl operating in one end of the link Q68. The other end of the link operates on ball stud E59 carried by an arm il() of a bell crank lli, on a fixed shaft i'i'.. The bell crank Eli has an upwardly projecting arm H5 to which is pivotaliy connected on a pin Ml a link |42, having a pivot pin connection M] to a downwardly projecting lug formed as part of the loop spreader slide 39.

The spreader may be arranged with more than one supplementary hook Ulli to spread a plurality of looper thread loops and thus serve two, three or more needles as the case may be, for making ornamental stitches as, for example, shown in Patent No. 1,961,950 of June 5, 1934, granted to John P. Weis, et al. This arrangement of parts is simple in construction and positive in action. The throat plate i9 forms the principal guide and bearing for the slide .139 while the adaptor plate t@ upon which the throat plate is supported holds the slide i539 in channel ldd and permits endwise movement of the loop spreader under the action of its driving mechanism M3 without side or up and down play.

While a channel idd is shown only in the throat plate fifi, such a channel may, if preferred, be

' with a slot |48 forming a hook adapted to hook u AC21 onto the pin |4I, so that the link |42 may be dispensed with and so that the` slide |39 may be tilted out of connection with the pin |4| and removed together with the throat plate and adaptor plate without removing the cloth plate.

Needle guard In addition this novel shaped work support provided by the present invention has associated therewith an advantageous needle guard |48, see Figs, 6v, 7, 9, and 10, adapted to guide or support a single needle 93 near the bottom of its travel, and to prevent the needle from being twisted or bowed by heavy materials or excessive pulling on the stitched materials while down, and particularly to align and maintain in alignment a plurality oi needles, thereby insuring a more postive and eicient high speed operation of the machine and insuring high quality stitch formation.

This needle guard mechanism as at present preferred is best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 particularly, and comprises a gate |49 pivotally mounted on a stud |59 threaded into the end wall 46 so that it may be moved to an inoperative position shown by dot-and-dash lines |49', but which is normally supported in the operative position shown by full lines in Fig. 9 with the outer or free end thereof riding or resting upon a long stud I5 and stopped in the operative position by engaging an end of an adjustable stud |52 threaded into the lug 54 and locked in adjusted position by a nut |53.

Normally the gate |49 is urged out to an inoperative position by a spring |54 so that the gate will not be half open or slightly open which would break loopers and needles when the latter are operated. By urging it to the open position, the operator can also more easily thread the loopers. The gate is locked in the operative position by a spring` latch |55 engaging the rear end thereof. Preferably this latch is provided with a bevel |51 so that it need not be pushed back manually when the gate is moved from the inoperative to the operative position. The position of the needle at the lower end of its stroke relative to the guard |48 is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10. Multiple needles would, of course, be similarly located in any desired spaced relation lengthwise of the gate. The gate itself may be made of one piece construction and hardened to prevent wear from the needle; however, it is preferably provided with a hardened angular or like plate |58 held onto the top of the gate by two screws |59 passed through suitable enlarged apertures |69 and threaded into the gate proper so that minor adjustments and movement to compensate for wear can be made with comparative ease and so that replacements of the worn needle engaging surfaces may be easily and cheaply made. The guard |48 or the plate |58 thereon may be provided with holes ISI or notches |82 to guide needles.

In order to move the needle guard gate |49 to the inoperative position, it is merely necessary to push against the finger |63, Fig. 9, until the end of the gate is clear. The front wall 44 is provided with a cut out 44 which enables an operator to reach in with his ngers to manipulate the gate. However, fine adjustments of the guard |48 relative to the needle 93, or adjustment of multiple needles relative to the guard may be accomplished best by removal of the throat plate 49 and adaptor plate B0.

Additional mechanism disclosed but not claimed herein is more completely disclosed in our copending applications Serial No. 747,871, filed October 11, 1934; Serial No. 755,372, filed November 30, 1934; and Serial No. 2,806, iiled January 2l,` 1935 now respectively Patents No. 2,145,823, No. 2,145,825 and No. 2,145,826, granted January 31, 1939.

If preferred the throat plate and adaptor may be made of one piece, but for economy in manufacturing cost and for operating advantages are made separately as shown and described herein. Although not described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is equally applicable for use with multiple needles and multiple loopers. l

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a sewing machine convertible from a iiat bed to a cylindrical type of sewing machine adapted to sew a tubular or cylindrical article, the combination of a frame; an arm extending from said frame; a removable cloth plate with an aperture, adapted to be connected to the arm;

an adaptor plate locatable completely within the aperture and supportable on the arm; and a throat plate also locatable in the aperture and supportable on the adaptor, said adaptor and throat plate while supported on the arm permitting removal and interchangeabiity of the cloth plate to convert the machine from a at bedto a cylindrical type of sewing machine.

2. In a sewing machine the combination of a main frame; a lower arm projecting from said frame; supports on said lower arm; a removable cloth plate on the supports of said lower arm, having a large aperture; a throat plate adapted to be located by the aperture; and an adaptor plate, located completely within said aperture, on the supports, to support the throat plate relative to the top of the cloth plate.

3. In a sewing machine the combination of a main frame; a lower arm projecting from said frame; supports on said lower arm; a removable cloth plate on the supports of said lower arm, having a large aperture; a throat plate adapted to be located by the aperture; an adaptor plate located completely within said aperture, on the supports,

vto support the throat plate relative to the top a channel in the throat plate; an adaptor supi ported by said arm, underlying and supporting the throat plate; and a loop spreader slide, for operation on a looper thread, located and supported in the channel between the throat plate and the adaptor for travel relative to the needle.

5. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; a reciprocating needle in said frame; an arm on the frame; a loop spreader slide for operation on a looper thread; a throat plate; an adaptor, located and supported with the throat plate on the arm; and portions on said throat plate and adaptor cooperable to locate and support the spreader slide for movement relative to the needle.

6. In a sewing machine the combination oi a frame; a reciprocating needle in said frame an arm on the frame; a loop spreader slide for operation on a looper thread; a throat plate; an adaptor, located and supported with the throat plate on the arm; portions on said throat plate and adaptor cooperable to locate and support the spreader slide for movement relative to the needle; a driving connection; and a hook on said slide adapted to hook onto the driving connection.

7. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; an arm extending from said frame; a reciprocating needle in said frame; a relatively thick cloth plate supported by said arm and having an aperture; a relatively thin throat plate located by said aperture and indirectly supported by said arm; an adaptor located by said aperture and supported by said arm for locating said thin throat plate substantially level with the top of the cloth plate; portions on said throat plate and said adaptor ccoperable to form a closed guide channel; a driving connection underlying said cloth plate; and a loop spreader slide, for operation on a lcoper thread, located and supported by said portions in the channel between the throat plate and the adaptor, and having means for association with the driving connection underlying the cloth plate.

8. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; an arm extending from said frame; a reciprocating needle in said frame; a relatively thick cloth plate supported by said arm and having an aperture; a relatively thin throat plate located by said aperture and indirectly supported by said arm; an adaptor located by said aperture and supported by said arm or locating said thin throat plate substantially level with the top of the cloth plate; portions on said throat plate and said adaptor cooperable to form an enclosed guide channel; and a loop spreader, for operation on a looper thread, located and supported by said portions in the channel between the throat plate and adaptor for travel relative to the needle.

9. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; a movable needle in said frame; an arm on said frame; a reciprocating operating rod in said arm; a loop spreader slide for operation on a looper thread; a throat plate; an adaptor located and supported with the throat plate on the arm; portions on said throat plate and adaptor cooperable to locate and support the spreader slide for movement relative to the needle; and means connecting said operating rod to said slide for actuating the latter.

l0. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; a movable needle in said frame; an arm on said frame; a looper; a looper operating rod in said arm; a loop spreader slide for operation on a looper thread; a throat plate; an adaptor located and supported with the throat plate on the arm; portions on said throat plate and adaptor cooperable to locate and support the spreader slide for movement relative to the needle; and means connecting said rod to said slide for actuating the latter coordinately with said looper.

1l. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; a movable needle said frame; an arm on said frame; a looper; a looper operating rod in said arm; a loop spreader slide for operation on a looper thread; a throat plate; an adaptor located and supported with the throat plate on the arm; portions on said throat plate and adaptor eooperable to locate and support the spreader slide for movement relative to the needle; a bell crank oscillatable by said rod; and means connecting said bell crank to said slide for actuating the latter in timed relation with said looper.

l2. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame; an arm on said frame; an interchangeable cloth plate having an aperture; an interchangeable throat plate located by said aperture; an adaptor located completely within said aperture; and means only on the arm for locating and supporting said cloth plate, adaptor plate, and throat plate, and adapted to permit removal of thel cloth plate without disturbing the throat plate and adaptor and vice versa.

JOHN P. WEIS. FREDERICK F. ZEIER. 

